The Dillon tribune., 1887-05-20
plckETT's MEMORABLE CHARGE.

Attacking the Federal center "n OoH'e-
terry Kit,gs-i'"ginning Of the End.
Lees plan was TO attack anil pielce the
Federal center ut Cemetery Ridge under
the command uf Gen. Hancock. It was
an attack such AS Napoleon had made sue
cessfully ut Wngram, when Marshal NC
Donald, with Il corps of 10000 men.
pierced the Austrian center and won II
great victory. 1t was al, attack such Us
Napoleon had triexl with the Old Guard At
Waterloo against Wellington and had
met with disaster.
by o'clock l4G found himself in reatli-
ness to again open the battle. For sew
eral hours Il dead silence had lrigned over
the battle field, when suddenly u cannon
shot. followed at the interval OF minute
by another, proclainls to both armies that
the hour had come for the last ,lnd final
struggle for victory. The solitary smoke
Of these shots was still floating in the air
when the whole Confederate line burst
out In one great roar and blaze Ut cannon
aiding. Ono hulltlred and thirty-eight
pieces of cannon opened their fiery throats
and sent their iron missiles against the
Federal center, to shake It, to tear II, to
rend it, If possible. From eighty guns,
we'll posted on the ridge, the Federals
made reply. For two hours this terrific
storm of shot and she'll continued, until
the Federal chief of artillery slackened his
fire, deelning 1t wise to hold in reserve his
ammunition to meet the infantry charge
which he knew was coming. Meade, also
wishing to provoke the attack. ordered
, the Airing to cease,
And now the Confealcrates irow out to
make that final and forever memorable
charge, which ranks among tho most re-
markahle in the history of bnttles. The
column numbers $4,000 men. II they
could oil be put in motion aud well led
against particular point Of the Federal
line they may decide the fate uf the battle.
Pickett's division Of Virgtnians, number
ing 4, $40 men, 10 the directing force, and
on these the greatest reliance n place1.
! Out Of the wooded crests On Cemetery
Ridge they march, sweeping into tho plain,
mile In width, they have to cross, with
tho mien Of conQuerors aud with Q cou-
rage that hos been tested on many battle.
fields. Onward they go in double hattie
line, not impctuously, not at the double
| quick, but with disciplined steadiness, -
II on the field Of review. The supporting
columns follow, hut not with tho steadi-
ness that characterizes Pickett's men,
Now opens the Federal artillery with
all their force upon the assailants, the
| sSs'N~ "AOe ~kSSAAAA9 H. SNN NIAlCS kUIVUKu
the advancing hosts. Still they 20
on, melting away a. they 60, the musk
ctry fire making still greater havoc among
them. The supporting columns falter,
but Pickett carries his men forward. they
reach the crest of tho hill, but torn and
bleeding and almost destroyed they nre
powerlcss to strike the blow they came ia
give. A blasting fire from the Federal
infantry almost annihilated them. Out
OF eighteen field officers and four generals,
Pickett and one lieutenant colonel alone
remain unharmcd. They throw down
their arms, they fly, aud the conflict is mt
an end. OF Pickett's magnificent division
alone j, NO men have been sacrificed and
twelve stands Of colors lost. The Losses
In tho supporting columns are nearly "a
great.
| The battle was over. On tho crest of
Cemetery Ridge the southern rebellion
round its high water mark. It was the
ocgtnntng OF the end, but the great army
OF Leo was destined to hold at hay for q
long time yet the conquerors ut Gettys-
burg Into the dispute that Meade shoui,]
have made his victory still more decisive
by an advance upon his foe It is not pro
posed to enter. He had repclled the In.
vasion. Lee with his army retired 10
Virginia again to act on the defensive, and
Meade pursued him. In the latter days
OF July the Rapidan had become the
dividing line between the opposing armies.
! Chicago Herald.
| = man with IAN idca," who is going nm
and down New York trying to put it into
permanent execution, is ex-Concrcssmnn
r: Moody l'oynton, Of Newburyport. Mass.
Hls project is single track railroad to he
run oy an engine built on the principle OF
nicyclc hc has worked the plan out in
minute "details and claims to be able h
aeInonstrate its practicability to the las.